John Madden: Shutting RG3 down affects the integrity of the game

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 11, 2013, 7:24 PM EST

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John Madden, the Hall of Fame coach and longtime broadcaster, has a problem with Washington coach Mike Shanahan’s decision to sit Robert Griffin III for the rest of the season to ensure he’ll be healthy for the offseason.

Madden said on Madden Football on SiriusXM NFL Radio that players and teams owe it to the league to play to win, and Madden believes that if Griffin is healthy enough that he’d be playing if Washington were fighting for a playoff berth, he ought to be playing now.

“I do know this: when the going goes tough you don’t quit. And you don’t fold up. And you don’t go in the other direction. I think you stay with what you believe you stay with who you are, you stay with what you are. And we have an integrity piece here, too,” Madden said, via Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post. “You can say well they’re 3-10, they’re out of it, so now they can do these things. No you can’t. This is still regular-season football. Draft order, that’s one small thing, but you still owe it to the people that are playing, that are still in the playoff picture. And when you can affect that and you don’t affect it with an all-out performance, then I think that affects the integrity of the game. . . . If you’re in the regular season, there’s only one way to play, and that’s to play your best people to win the game, every regular season game.”

Madden said he fundamentally disagrees with Shanahan’s view that keeping Griffin healthy for the offseason is more important than playing him in the final three games of the regular season.

“I mean, you know it’s baloney,” Madden said. “I like Mike Shanahan, and I’m not talking behind his back, but when you say something like that, you know that’s not right — you’re not going to sacrifice regular season games. There’s only 16 of them a year. You’re not going to sacrifice regular season games for an offseason program.”

But sacrificing regular season games for an offseason program is exactly what Shanahan says he’s doing with Griffin.

88 Responses to “John Madden: Shutting RG3 down affects the integrity of the game”

wryly1 says:Dec 11, 2013 7:29 PM

The ‘integrity of the game’ was threatened when the NFL let a football know-nothing like Dan Snyder destroy a franchise by trading 3 RD1 picks plus an RD2 and not even get the top pick in the draft. Of course this is the same league that allows Jerrah Jones to be GM, Head Coach, Offensive & Defensive Coordinator.

Top 5 QBs in Professional Football – Robert Griffin III, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford, Andy Dalton and Drew Brees. In that order.

allday420ap says:Dec 11, 2013 7:35 PM

In the picture he shows you how big the sandwich he just ate was

profootballsquawk says:Dec 11, 2013 7:38 PM

And why does Madden think RG3 gives them the best chance to win? What games has he been watching, 2012?

fordmandalay says:Dec 11, 2013 7:40 PM

Can we not forget they also owe it to the FANS, who buy the tickets, go to the games, buy the merchandise, and support the teams?

seaeagle707 says:Dec 11, 2013 7:41 PM

I agree with Madden, up to a point. Where I stop, is with the inference that he seems to be making that Cousins, the backup, wouldn’t be capable of winning the remaining games. It’s true that every team should put the best they can offer on the field for every game, regardless of the team’s standing. They owe that to their fans that shell out decent money to fill the seats for those games. They probably also owe it to the networks that pay big bucks to televise them.

But when you’ve got competent backups ready to start, and the first stringers are marginal on health issues, I don’t agree that you “must” go with the primary players. With all of the quarterback shuffling that’s gone on in the league this season, for Madden, to suddenly say that this isn’t a “proper” thing for Washington to do, is rather strange. I didn’t hear him crying foul when Chudzinski, decided to sit Weeden, the starter, for a backup.

What’s the difference in sitting a starter for the last regular season game if your team has locked down a playoff spot and what the Redskins and Snyder are doing with RG3? Both options are for the better of the team in the short future. So does Madden disagree with the teams that sit a starter to keep him healthy for the playoffs? Doesn’t that too affect the integrity of the game? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I really don’t see a difference between the two.

Honestly the Redskins have been playing the equivalent of pre-season games for the last couple weeks. There is no incentive to win from now on, in fact all winning does is hurt your draft status and risk injury.

The key problem is that it doesn’t appear that Shanahan is being honest. By his own admission he’s not very honest very often, unless this is the time that he’s not being honest. I really think the media needs to ask better questions to not allow him to get away with cookie cutter answers that work for generic situations, but the media isn’t challenging him or putting him at risk to back himself into a corner with a lousy answer that doesn’t make sense. They keep asking him softball questions and missing the key follow up questions based on what his position is. He needs to get busted, because I don’t believe his story is truthful and makes sense, and that needs to be pressed upon and exposed.

annes22 says:Dec 11, 2013 7:56 PM

I think he should be playing for the fans. They have paid a lot of money for their tickets. They also have bought his jersey, and he’s sitting for the rest of the season. Excuse me, but why??? Because he’s playing like crap, or because he’s hurt.
Shanahan needs to go anyway, what has he done this year??? Nothing.

Eli was terrible as a rookie, the Giants didn’t hide him on the bench they made him play it out. There was a stretch of three games Eli’s rookie year he looked awful but he stuck it out. RGME just got a piece of humble pie. He better chew on it all off season.

seanx40 says:Dec 11, 2013 8:15 PM

Kirk Cousins is almost certainly a better option at this point. Besides, if he plays well, the Redskins will have something to trade. Perhaps for an offensive lineman to block for RGIII next season.

Madden is right. It isn’t fair to the other teams are in the playoff hunt. If I was a Philly fan I would be irate and giving the Cowboys and Giants a gift is just wrong in so many ways. I happen to be a life long Skins fan for 40 years. If another team laid down in our division and we were in the hunt I would be one angry fan. RGIII isn’t hurt he is in Shanny’s way from making 7 million to get fired. No way he thinks Cousins is a better qb now or ever.

John Madden was credible in his time but John Madden’s time has passed. As for integrity, sometimes integrity involves speaking about subjects when one is fully and properly informed and not speaking just because there is a microphone in the vicinity. And, as a side note, the post injury RGlll is not nearly as good as the pre-injury RGlll and may not be better than a healthy Kirk Cousins. Given RGlll’s performance this year, Cousins may be an upgrade.

What the Redskins are doing makes perfect sense to me. RGIII needs a full off season to both heal from his injury and develop better drop back skills. Playing him the next three games endangers his potential next year. BTW, I like Madden, but this is a different situation than he’s ever encountered.

croghan1919 says:Dec 11, 2013 8:59 PM

Bill Polian disagrees.

commonsensedude says:Dec 11, 2013 9:24 PM

Madden is right and is a real coach, not a guy who rode on the back of a Hall of Fame QB to fame and fortune. And this is yet one more reason why there will never be a video game called “Mike Shanahan Football.”

kokomike says:Dec 11, 2013 9:30 PM

Madden is simply saying Shanahan’s stated reasons are flawed. Many of you are obtusely calling Shanahan a liar, and condemning Madden for taking Shanahan’s word.

tigersfandan says:Dec 11, 2013 9:41 PM

“”Whenever you talk about a Mike Shanahan offense, you’re always going to be talking about his offense.””

gooboy6 says:Dec 11, 2013 10:01 PM

No way Cousins is worse than RG III was last week, smart move by Redskins, let RG III heal up and come back strong next year. Madden is a legend but he doesn’t have all the answers, shanahan has 2 rings too !

Brinke says:Dec 11, 2013 10:21 PM

Ridiculous.

The Skins can play whoever they want. They’re way out of it, why play the guy so he can get shredded in a game that doesn’t matter?

Whether he plays or Cousins plays, the other team still has to beat them.

it’s likely that the redskins are showcasing cousins in an attempt to recover a pick or two in the off season. from that standpoint it behooves shanahan to make cousins look good by winning a few games – integrity issue solved.

What Bill Polian and the Colts did in 2011 “sucking for Luck”‘did way more damage to the integrity of the game than Shanahan and the Redskins shutting Bob Griffin down for the last 3 games of the season.

Some people say Green Bay should shut down Aaron Rodgers why is that a good move and doing the same with Griffin is bad for the game ? I think Rodgers not playing has more potentially play off impacting ramifications than Griffen

TheNaturalMevs says:Dec 12, 2013 12:00 AM

Disagree with my all time favorite Madden here. The way RG3 has played, they don’t owe it to anyone to play him. He doesn’t give them the best chance to win. They’re a better team with Cousins at the helm right now, IMO.

clincoln007 says:Dec 12, 2013 12:03 AM

Madden is spot on. I’m not a Skins fan but I couldn’t imagine my team forfeiting 3 games because they were out of the playoffs. Shanahan and Snyder should be ashamed and penalized. Cousins has been decent but season ticket holders and oponents ticket holders paid hard earned money to see their favorite team! If he can play he should play!

Griffin hasn’t done that bad [16 tds 12 int 3,203 yards and a 60% completion percentage I mean they have 2 two capable starters when my team doesn’t have one, we have 3 back ups [ Vikings]. His problem is that he is inconsistent inside the pocket he has the ability to make every throw but did too much outside the pocket playmaking that it never made him build good pocket awareness, but now he knee is shot everything is different.

It will be more important for Mike Shanahan to be healthy for seasons of low-level commentating than to travel for induction into the hall of fame, so voters can remember this incident and not induct him ever.

And if Kirk Cousins based on the health of RG III gives the Redskins a better chance to win, what then Johnny? I would not want to play them this weekend, watch it, they are going to win. Cousins is going to play well and they are going to get a 2nd round offer for him in the off season.

Cousins gives the Redskins a better chance to win than Griffin because he is a better NFL QB.

doubleogator says:Dec 12, 2013 9:31 AM

This is giving Kirk Cousins more motivation to prove he can be a good NFL QB. He was drafted in the 4th round, higher than Tom Brady. Remember Drew Bledsoe? 6th round pick Brady made people forget him pretty quickly…

Its clearly apparent that if RG3 is unable to run with reckless abandon, then he’s ineffective at QB. Simple as that. I can almost guarantee if Russell Wilson had a brace on his knee, he’s still be effective.

pixelito says:Dec 12, 2013 10:14 AM

Madden has no perspective into the situation to make an irresponsible judgement like that.

This is almost as disgraceful as when the Colts “rested” Peyton before the playoffs.

Of course Peyton then choked so I guess karma or the football gods had the last laugh!

dg575 says:Dec 12, 2013 10:45 AM

You know, when Brett Favre came in for Don Majkowski in 1992, there were a lot of Packers fans, myself included, who wanted him benched and Majkowski to start. Fortunately for us, Mike Holmgren ignored us and stuck with Favre, letting him work through his issues (more Interceptions than TDs in 1993) and it worked out.

IMO, if the Redskins feel like RGIII is their franchise QB, they need to stick with him and let him work through his issues on the field every week.

treysdown says:Dec 12, 2013 10:47 AM

I wish the NFL would implement a lottery system for the top of the first round to ensure against teams tanking the season for a better draft pick.

jglion says:Dec 12, 2013 10:50 AM

What’s Washington’s record with RG111 playing? Why WOUNDN’T you sit him down and try Cousins at this point? Seems like a no brainer. Madden’s right about a lot of things, but not this time.

I can’t believe how many people are getting snowed by Shanahan’s well shenanigans. This isn’t about protecting RG3 from injury. He just trotted him out in on snow covered field against one of the leagues best defenses last week. The Redskins are facing three of the worst passings defenses in the league over the last three weeks of the season. He’s stacking the deck for Cousins to leave a dumpster fire for next years coach.

wferg1121 says:Dec 12, 2013 11:40 AM

The Redskins have no 1st round pick courtesy of the RG3 trade. With a lot of teams needing a QB, why wouldn’t Shanahan advertise a NFL ready QB to other teams to get draft picks? Although it’s obvious he wont be using the picks if they get some.. Lol

dabillshateme says:Dec 12, 2013 11:49 AM

This is no different than teams saving starters for the playoffs. Does Madden think that affects the integrity of the game?

Simple Solution that would significantly reduce the whole concept of “tanking.”

Stop setting draft order solely on records. Make the top 10 picks in the draft a lottery of all non-playoff teams, then picks 11-32 can be set with the teams that weren’t chosen in that lottery by record and strength of schedule, etc. This way, nobody is guaranteed to get a top 10 pick in the draft. Best you can hope for by “tanking” is pick #11.

It also solves the problem of all the marginal teams that can’t seem to quite get over the top, but also never seen to do poorly enough to get a top draft pick.

All those years of Oakland versus Denver has corrupted Madden’s thinking on this subject…Here’s hoping Cousins has a great game to shut all this stuff down already…RGIII is damaged goods and HE knows it more than anyone.

It’s clear RG was not fully healed and NOT ready to play. His knee injury and brace clearly affected his mechanics, which threw off his timing. He played timid and often threw the ball away too quickly. It was his competitive nature and ego which demanded that he try to keep up with Adrian Peterson in coming back from an ACL tear. Snyder should have listened to Shanahan and the staff instead of the young QB. It was Snyder who made the call to allow RG on the field, not Shanahan.

dave4nyfg says:Dec 12, 2013 12:44 PM

Non-issue. Look at who they play… falcons and giants are out of the picture. Eagles won’t be screwed if cowboys are ‘given’ a game b/c they have a chance to settle it themselves in wk17 (and the loser of that game won’t be getting a wildcard spot). Plus giants/cowboys have already beaten the skins this season.

Let alone the other point that its hard to say that cousins will be less effective. As a giants fan, I’d probably rather face RG3 than more of an unknown who shown ability to play reasonably well — beat him once already this yr…

treysdown says:
Dec 12, 2013 10:47 AM
I wish the NFL would implement a lottery system for the top of the first round to ensure against teams tanking the season for a better draft pick.

—————————-

This is the NFL, not the NBA.

Every new year every team has a chance.
The NFL trumps the NBA for a reason!

wmgates68 says:Dec 12, 2013 1:56 PM

Madden is wrong. Since when shouldn’t you sit down a 3-10 QB? It should’ve been done weeks ago.

raideralex99 says:Dec 12, 2013 3:40 PM

Wow … I guess Madden stopped watching football.
Rams have the Redskins pick … it’s in their best interest to win.
RG3 is playing terrible why not teach him a lesson.
Also at this time of year alot of players are shut down due to injuries especially if they have no chance of making the playoffs.

Maybe Madden should have comment of what Reggie was doing in Oakland … tanking the season to get rid of the salary cap issues.
How is that not effecting the integrity of the game?
Did Ozzie dismantle the Ravens because they ran into salary cap issues?

ialwayswantedtobeabanker says:Dec 12, 2013 4:17 PM

Madden worried about the “integrity of the game” is a joke.

Talk about hypocrisy.

Madden (and Big Al) were the two that coined the legendary Two Rules of Raider Football.

Raider Rule Number 1: Cheating is encouraged.

Raider Rule Number 2: See Rule Number 1.

The extent of b.s. the Raiders sunk to has no end, but I’ll give one example.

The Raiders (coached by Madden) used to use padding as a weapon. Padding, tape, helmets and braces are to protect an injured player from further damage.

Well, the Raiders brought in some kind of specialist for the express purpose of creating weapons for the Raiders to not only create an unfair competitive advantage – but also to hurt, intimidate, injure and demoralize opponents.

Their players had lonnnnng been healthy, but they’d still be sneaking a metal bar or some plaster of paris in there – to create weapons they’d use to injure opponents. They even used the thumb in this regard.